Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has congratulated Nigeria on the largely peaceful and orderly conduct of presidential and parliamentary elections.

Ban, in a statement issued on Saturday night in New York, encouraged all Nigerians to continue to maintain the peace and to exercise patience throughout the ongoing voting process and the announcement of the final results.

He condemned the attacks reportedly carried out by Boko Haram in some parts of the country and attempts by hoodlums to disrupt polling in some areas.

The UN Chief said that he was encouraged by the determination and resilience shown by Nigerians in pressing forward and exercising their civic duties.

The Secretary-General called on all actors to channel any complaints that might arise from the elections through the established dispute resolution mechanisms.

The Secretary-General said he believed that the successful conclusion of the electoral process would mark an important step forward in further consolidating democracy and the rule of law in Nigeria